Media coverage bias

Here is a comment to the letters to the editor today in the Daily Gleaner:

The Telegraph Journal, Daily Gleaner and the Times and Transcript are irresponsible in failing to cover significant news related to FSL news in NB. These papers have also failed to publish letters sent to them by experts that oppose Kelly Lamrock’s new FSL plan.
Some omissions by the major papers of southern NB:

• A letter to the editor by expert Dr. Fred Genesee
• A letter to the editor by expert Gene Ouellette
• A letter to the editor by expert Robert Leavitt
• A letter to the editor by expert Joseph Dicks
• Measha Bruggergosman’s public statements against the elimination of EFI
• coverage of the CEC meeting in Fred. with 200 people in attendance
• coverage of the CEC meeting in Moncton on May 27th
• the alternate FSL plan by Dr. Joseph Dicks
• coverage of the French for the Future conference held in Fredericton with 210 French Immersion and Francophone students, 35 teachers and 20 guest speakers in attendance.

Papers should not selectively omit important news and letters.

Dr. Fred Genesee, “Early Childhood Bilingualism: Perils and Possibilities”

Message from Jane Keith, Executive Director, Canadian Parents for French:

On May 14, 2008, Dr. Fred Genesee will be giving a free, public talk in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The title of his lecture is “Early childhood bilingualism: Perils and possibilities”. We believe this presentation will appeal to anyone interested in issues pertaining to bilingualism in education, second language learners, immersion, and the challenges associated with accommodating the varied needs of learners from varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Dr. Genesee is a world-renowned scholar of bilingualism, language development and language immersion programs, a Professor of Psychology at McGill University and the author of numerous scientific research books and reports on language learning in children.

We would be grateful for your assistance in circulating this message to your members, colleagues, and staff who might benefit from attending this event. Teachers, in particular, might be able to count this event toward mandated professional development requirements.

May 14, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (in English)
Wu Conference Centre, UNB Fredericton
Kent Auditorium, 6 Duffie Drive, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3

Local Contact Info – Jane Keith, Executive Director
Tel.: 506.432.6584

For additional information on Dr. Genesee’s talk, please visit the Minerva Lecture Series page on the Canadian Council on Learning’s website.

Update (May 26/08): Here is the podcast of Dr. Genesee’s talk.